2008 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2009 UPDATE

The RESTORE Program Is Growing

VORP provides RESTORE, a Restorative Justice diversion program for first-time shoplifters referred through Denver County Court and Denver Safe City. The RESTORE Program offers a voluntary opportunity for youth who have shoplifted to deal with their charge in a way that is meaningful to themselves and the community. The youth and a parent or guardian attend two RESTORE sessions which provide awareness raising of the harm of shoplifting to the community via a panel of community members, followed by facilitated dialogue circles with other shoplifters and their parents. The youth and his or her parent create a contract for community service and other ways to repair the harm done by the shoplifting. The youth return in 30 to 60 days to demonstrate in another dialogue session how they have completed their contract.

105 youth were referred to RESTORE in 2008.  Of those, 86 (82% of those referred) completed the program.  Referrals in the first six months of 2009 doubled over those in the same time period in 2008, Based on that, it is anticipated that 180 youth will be served in 2009, compared to the 93 served in 2008.

What Difference Does RESTORE Make?

Of those youth referred to RESTORE on or after July 1, 2008 who satisfactorily completed the restorative justice shoplifting program prior to December 1, 2008, only ten percent have had law enforcement contacts, re-arrests, or court filings within six-months of program completion, as evidenced by Denver County law enforcement records.  

An analysis of data from the pre- and post- program surveys of 2008 RESTORE program participants was completed in March 2009. Based on the data, RESTORE has had an impact with the youth in the program, on the awareness of shoplifting consequences and connectedness with adults. In the pre-test, 64 % responded that they agree or strongly agree in response to “I care what adults in my community think about me.” This increased to 88% in the post-survey. This table shows the changes in the awareness of shoplifting consequences: